So I love the summer time and being able to explore the amazing sites our East Coast surroundings offer.    We try to take the kids somewhere each weekend, and I lay the schedule out months in advance.  This creates great memories and is my attempt to avoid the dreaded  I’m bored phrase and replace it with the are we there yet phrase J   And if any of you know with I-95 in the mix, are we there yet always makes me a liar. 
  Originally we had planned to take the kids to Busch Gardens, but due to the downpour expected we hastily changed our plans to take them to Philadelphia for the night.  We left home at 9am and our expected 3 hour “tour”, due to my best friend I-95, took us 5 hours. 
  For our first stop, we tried to stop at the famed Pat or Genos (they are across the street from each other) for philly cheesesteaks, but the parking was awful and the lines were long (I recommend taking a cab here if you are staying in the city) so we continued on to our next stop Eastern State Penitentiary.  We were starving so we had lunch across the street from the penitentiary at Jacks Firehouse.  Mav devoured his French toast, Abby enjoyed her BLT Cesar, I liked my Brisket Sandwich, but the hubby was not impressed with his dry philly cheesesteak. 
  After lunch we continued across the street to the famed eastern State Penitentiary that was operating  from  1829 to 1971 housing the likes of Al Capone and reportedly very haunted.  It was pouring during our self-guided tour there but we enjoyed the audio tour led by famed Steve Buscemi and I enjoyed the fun while learning aspect for the kids.  The newly renovated Synagogue and Chaplins Murals were an added bonus (this was my third visit and I really reccomend going to there annual halloween haunted house). 
  After we finished at the penitentiary we hopped in the car and proceeded to the nearby Philadelphia Museum of Art so the kids could see the Rocky Statue and the famed Rocky Steps.  I stayed in the car while Dad hopped out with them.  They ran up the 72 stone steps and the heavens started dumping right when they got to the top.  They quickly ran back down and hopped in the car.  We proceeded on to our hotel. 
  We stayed at the Inn at Penn- By Hilton, which honored government rate of $171 a night J  The room was very nice and near the center of town, but on the college campus, so since the students are away it was very quiet.  The room was nicely appointed and very high tech including an ipad to connect with the front desk.  The morning buffet which was included had a delicious spread. 
  For dinner we went to Penne, the restaurant at the hotel (there are not a lot of options near the hotel).  We started with an order of calamari.  For entrees I had the most amazing caprese salad I have ever had.  The mozzarella was so fresh and the tomatoes were so flavorful.  The hubby enjoyed his steak as well.  The kids enjoyed the wood fired pizzas we brought them back to the room finished by amazing coconut tiramisu.
  The next morning we left the hotel and went to check out Reading Terminal Market, the Famous indoor farmer's market offering diverse fare, housewares & area specialties since 1892.  We walked through the whole market, which was not crowded as it normally is because on Sundays all the Amish vendors are closed.  Abby and Abner selected fresh fruit smoothies which were delicious.  Mav got Ice cream from Bassets and we took home a new table cloth from Contessas French Linens (these are teflon coated so wipeable and beautiful without feeling like plastic) and out of this world fresh cannolis from Termini Brothers. 
  On our way out of town we did quick stops at Benjamin Franklin’s grave, the Liberty Bell, Independence Hall, and Eagles Stadium.  Along with a stop at Phantom Fireworks to bring home some fun.  A short but super fun trip.  Until the next one, Cheers!

When it Snows I will Burry my Head in the Sand!

  So January and February brought lots of snow to the great state of lovers, Virginia.  I hate the snow and will run from it like a burning building.  It is mainly the wearing socks and jackets part I hate the most. 
  It just so happened that in January and February the hubby had a work trip to Miami. Chaching the sun gods do love me!  I headed down at the end of January leaving Mav with my brother (I am happy to report that Mav, the animals and the house survived). 
  The hubby and I enjoyed four days of sun filled fun.  While he worked I explored South Beach (never walk on the A1A, when you do a walk about, as it is really long and hot, like 12 miles long back to the hotel), then as a reward of my long walk I sunned on the roof top pool with cocktails.  We took a two day trip to the Keys and had the best key lime pie of our life at Blue Heaven (we shall forever chase that dragon), it was the perfect mix of lime offset by meringue.  We stayed at the Waldorf Astoria (thanks Hilton Honors points) and just enjoyed each others company.
  I returned to Virginia so sad and cold.  I had not had my fix of the sun, so 2 weeks later for Valentines weekend the little and I headed to meet him in Ft Myers.  The flight with Frontier was dirt cheap and the lodging was free :-)  We stayed at my Aunts house and enjoyed sun filled days of air boat rides, gators, good food and family.

Niagara Falls Adventure

Heading off on the Journey

Heading to the Casino for the Bachelorette Party!

2 for 1 Martini Night!

Night 2 Back at the Casino!



Hanging with the Groom

Beautiful Bride and Best Man

Ice Wine Tasting in Canada

  So some months back my childhood friend Rachel told me she would be getting married in Niagara Falls.  It is only an 8.5 hour drive from my home so since she would be coming all the way from California I just had to be there.  Plus Niagara Falls has always been on my bucket list.  I knew there perfect person to bring to the home of romance.  My best friend Monica!  Road trips with her are the best!  We roll down the windows and sing our hearts out to Britney Spears, Nelly, TLC and lots of other amazing road trippy stuff.  The hubby is not a singer like us so it is better to long road trips with someone who is crazy like me.

  In order to pay for the trip we did a wedding the week before with my side business Absolutely Fabulous Events.  A tip for people, your spouse is much more apt to let you go on trips when you finance it with side money.

  We stayed on the American side the first two nights at the Red Coach Inn.  It is reportedly haunted with the ghost of a woman who was bludgeoned on her wedding night (Monica and I are suckers for Ghosts).  We received a 10% triple A discount.  When booking never be afraid to call the place and see if they offer any discounts that apply to you.  The place came with breakfast which was a savings as well.

  We had dinner on the Canadian side (It takes 10 minutes to get back and forth between the two sides just bring a passport or birth certificate for those under 18) at Copa Cabana Brazillian Steak House and it was amazing.  It was fun to catch up with the bride and her parents and get to know the groom.  We took the bride back with us to the american side to go to the Casino for her Bachelorette Party.  It was 2 for 1 Martini night and we tried them all.  There was also a great DJ and we had a blast.

  The next morning we explored the falls.  The cave of the winds had not opened yet because the walkway is torn down and rebuilt each year and we have had a cold winter (it was May and there was still ice in the water). 

  The wedding was beautiful and intimate right in front of the falls and I was so happy to be there for it.  After the wedding we had dinner at the Red Coach Inn followed by a quick nap and a meet up at the Casino again.  This night was a band and we had fun with four other friends that had come.

  The next day Monica and I headed off to Niagara on The Lake in Canada for wine tasting.  We went to Inniskillin first because it is the most famous; the wine was good but the tasting was impersonal and pricey at three varieties for $15.  Next stop was Lailey Winery a very small winery that gave a great tasting and had amazing wine if you bought a bottle the tasting was free and the bottles were moderatly priced.  The final stop was two sisters.  A large new winery that was both personal and had good wine.  The tasting was discounted if you bought wine. 

  After wine tasting we checked into our amazing b&b Mary Street Bed and Breakfast.  The owner was so warm.  Or room had a private balcony and was very moderate at $150 for the night and it came with breakfast.  I try to always stay at places with a free breakfast to lower costs.  We went to site see downtown and finished it off with a wonderful lunch of poutine (traditional canadian dish of fries, gravy and cheese curds) at the haunted Olde Angel Inn.  We were exhausted from 2 nights of the casino so we went back and used the Jacuzzi and then settled into bed.  We woke up to a great breakfast then rode off into the sunset.



Catching Up

Lil Miss Fabulous Heading off into the Sunset at 2

  So I am known as a bit of a story teller. I have been telling stories and heading off on adventures and telling stories as long as I can remember.  I love to share my adventures, and always do so in an animated fashion.  So now I am going to have to play a bit of catch up over the next few weeks filling this section with recent trips and tips.  I like to travel often and hope to give tips to make it possible for others too.  If you do not see a locale you are interested in, chances are I may have been there and will have some off the wall tips and so just shoot me a message and I will be happy to share.  Cheers to many Ab Fab adventures.